Residents are being kicked out so that their landlord can sell their homes to a London council which intends to use them as temporary accommodation. Private tenants living in Garden Court, opposite Kew Gardens, have been served soon-to-be abolished Section 21 eviction notices by their landlord Dorrington, while the £16 million deal is finalised.
Labour-run Westminster City Council is in the process of buying the Richmond housing block to be used for temporary accommodation - even though there are already more than 30 households living there.
Westminster City Council says the sale was on the basis the property was vacant and that Dorrington is responsible for issuing the eviction notices. Labour Government's Renters' Rights Act will abolish Section 21 notices on May 1, 2026.
Michael Slade, 85, is one of the residents who will need to pack up their bags and move out of the “village-like” apartment block. He has lived in Garden Court for 16 years, many alongside his wife, who passed away five years ago.
Mr Slade, who is known as ‘The Bee’ by his friends, is unsure where he will go after he is evicted. Due to his age, he needs a ground floor flat and to be close to his friends, who he depends upon even more after the death of his beloved wife.
"Everybody is a agog. People say 'bumblebee, how much time do you have to leave the hive?' And I say 'two months', and they say 'two months, what?' People are getting quite irate, agitated about what's going on," he told the LDRS.
Basima Haidi, 86, has also been served an eviction notice by Dorrington. She has lived in Garden Court for 15 years and has no family living close-by, as her four children are scattered across the globe.
“I’m very upset. Of course, I’m old. I want [the landlord] to take care of me and find me another place. My neighbours help me. I can get to the hospital quickly. I don’t know how to live in another area. I don’t know where I will go," she said.
In a letter dated March 4, from Russel Cooke, acting on behalf of Dorrington, Ms Basima is asked to vacate her property by May 10. The minimum notice period for a Section 21 notice is two months.
Paul Penny, 79, cannot be evicted as he is on a protected tenancy. Mr Penny now faces losing his entire community of neighbours, who will be replaced by people in need of temporary accommodation. “I’ve always looked after the place and I won’t stand any nonsense. If there is any disruption, my army side will come out,” he said.
Susu Myat, 57, and Justin King, 61, have also been told they need to leave Garden Court under a Section 21 notice. They have both taken time off full-time work to return to university for their studies.
After living at Garden Court for 16 years, they did not expect that their tenancy would be terminated. They may now be forced to give up their studies, so they can return to work, as the surprise eviction has totally disrupted their plan.
'The property will be used as temporary accommodation'
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: "I can confirm that Westminster City Council is in the process of acquiring Garden Court for use as temporary accommodation. This is in line with our policy of sourcing accommodation across London to house people on our waiting lists.
A spokesperson for Dorrington said: “We continually review our portfolio and as a result have agreed to sell Garden Court to Westminster City Council. We were able to give residents notice in February 2025 of our intention to sell Garden Court and the majority have already found new homes in the year since then.
“Where residents have found the move less straightforward, we are providing support and flexibility and will continue to do so. Where residents have protections through their tenancies they will have the opportunity to continue living at Garden Court under its new ownership.”
'We are extremely concerned'
Richmond Council has said it is "extremely concerned” about the evictions and it is "demanding discussions" with Westminster City Council as a “matter of urgency”.
A spokesperson for Richmond Council said: “Reports that residents at Garden Court have been issued Section 21 notices by the current landlord have come as a real shock to the community, and although we understand this may relate to a potential change in ownership, nevertheless what we are talking about are people’s homes – homes in which some of them have lived for a considerable period of time.
“We want to talk to Westminster City Council to better understand what’s going on, and to try our best to protect the interests of our residents.”
Councillor Paul Swaddle, leader of the opposition at Westminster City Council, said: "There is no justification for throwing people, including elderly and vulnerable residents, out of their homes at two months' notice. These are residents who may have limited mobility and limited ability to simply uproot and start again.
“Labour in Westminster, Sadiq Khan and the Labour Government all campaign loudly against no fault evictions. To apparently facilitate exactly this for some of Westminster's most vulnerable residents is an act of staggering hypocrisy.
